The search to find Sutton’s most inspiring women is set to be launched on the upcoming International Women’s Day next month.

Sutton Women Mean Business Awards, in association with developers Willmott Dixon, are being established – ready for launch on March 8.

The aim is to “inspire and illustrate the importance of women in the workforce and the community” as the annual International Women’s Day draws near.

This year’s theme is titled #BalanceforBetter, a bid to “build a gender-balanced world”, according to its organisers.

The awards will be launched with an afternoon tea for 100 guests before a specially commissioned Sutton Inspirational Women photographic exhibition is unveiled at the Sutton Point development.

It’s a joint venture between business improvement district (BID) Successful Sutton, the borough’s council and marketing agency White Label Creative.

Patricia Park, Successful Sutton’s BID manager, said: “These brilliant new awards provide a platform for the many talented and entrepreneurial women in our borough to be recognised for the contribution they make to our economy and our community.

“We also hope they will be role models for the next generation of women in Sutton.”

Cllr Jayne McCoy, the council’s deputy leader, said: “We're pleased to support the first Sutton Women Mean Business awards and are proud to celebrate the positive power of women in workplaces across Sutton.

“We want to demonstrate the diversity of roles open to women to help inspire the next generation. We want to see men and women across the borough recognise the powerful role women play in business and communities.

“And we want to see employers recognised for their commitment to flexible working and demonstrably encouraging women at all levels of their organisation or business.”

The new awards will feature several free-to-enter categories which cover various professions, businesses and sectors – including charities and social enterprises.

And there will also be a chance for people to nominate women in the workplace that “should be recognised”, in addition to those who have “enabled and empowered” women in the workplace.

The awards launch will be held from 2pm to 4pm on March 8 at Sutton Point, in Sutton Court Road (SM1 4SY).

To find out more, visit: www.suttonwomenmeanbusiness.co.uk.